Power Outage Disrupts Hundreds of Flights at Denver Airport

Xcel Energy identifies faulty equipment as the cause of the widespread blackout that trapped passengers and grounded planes.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:20am

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A bold, geometric composition in shades of blue and gray, depicting the towering architecture of an airport terminal under the strain of a widespread power failure, conveying the sense of disruption and chaos without any literal depiction of people or text.A sweeping, monumental illustration captures the scale and disruption of a major power outage that grounded hundreds of flights at Denver International Airport.Denver Today

A recent power outage at Denver International Airport caused significant operational disruptions, delaying nearly 500 flights and trapping passengers in elevators. Xcel Energy, the airport's main power provider, has confirmed that the blackout was triggered by a malfunctioning piece of new equipment at one of its substations. The incident exposed challenges in the airport's communication systems and prompted plans to upgrade infrastructure and improve emergency response procedures.

Why it matters

The power outage at Denver International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States, highlights the critical importance of reliable and resilient energy infrastructure for transportation hubs. Disruptions to airport operations can have far-reaching consequences, affecting thousands of travelers and causing significant economic impact. This incident underscores the need for proactive measures to prevent and mitigate such events in the future.

The details

According to an internal airport report, the March 18th power outage resulted in the disruption of several major systems, including jet bridges, gate operations, ramp control towers, and the airport train network. Eight passengers were trapped in elevators for up to 19 minutes, and the outage also impacted Wi-Fi and internal communications, leading to confusion and challenges in providing timely information to passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop less than an hour after the initial power loss, and by the time the situation stabilized, 477 flights had been delayed and 9 canceled.

  • The power outage occurred at 9:21 a.m. on March 18, 2026.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at 10:10 a.m. the same day.
  • Partial power was restored after about 40 minutes, but it took roughly two-and-a-half hours to fully restore electricity across the airport.

The players

Xcel Energy

The main power provider for Denver International Airport, which has confirmed that the blackout was triggered by a malfunctioning piece of new equipment at one of its substations.

Stacey Stegman

A spokesperson for Denver International Airport, who described the power outage as a "significant" incident that impacted the airport's operations.

Lisa Andersen

A spokesperson for Xcel Energy, who stated that the company is working to address the root cause of the equipment failure and plans to invest $118 million over the next five years to support the airport's growing energy demands.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't a minor inconvenience. This was a significant power outage that impacted the airport.”

— Stacey Stegman, Airport Spokesperson

“We are actively working with city officials to ensure all energy needs are met now and for years to come.”

— Lisa Andersen, Xcel Energy Spokesperson

What’s next

Xcel Energy is working with the manufacturer to fix the faulty equipment and get the new transformer in service. The airport also plans to upgrade its communications infrastructure and improve its emergency response procedures to better communicate with passengers during similar incidents in the future.

The takeaway

The power outage at Denver International Airport highlights the critical importance of reliable and resilient energy infrastructure for transportation hubs. This incident exposed challenges in the airport's communication systems and prompted plans to invest in upgrades and improve emergency preparedness, underscoring the need for proactive measures to prevent and mitigate such disruptions in the future.